WITH regard to the proposed Tesco development in Okehampton, my experience has been the reverse of your 'new store finds favour' article (June 7). However, I am not surprised at this 'finding' given that this consultation was paid for by Tesco. We need more and different information to achieve a balanced perspective.

A few arguments on the other side need stating clearly. This development will increase traffic and congestion and no new access roads are proposed. It will threaten local businesses and destroy local jobs – the average figure nationally is a loss of 276 local jobs per superstore.

Tesco is obliged to use its dominance in world markets (existing in 13 countries now) to exploit suppliers and farmers to keep its prices low. Many surveys show that supermarkets siphon money away from local communities and to shareholders and distant corporations.

This is a huge decision for Okehampton — let's hear both sides and find out what's behind the window dressing before we leap one way or the other.

Paul Wilson

Station Road

Okehampton

IF the local people who voted for a Tesco here in Okehampton did not have to go elsewhere for their shopping, they would have a lot more money to spend in Okehampton, because they would not have spent money on petrol.

I think this would encourage local shopping and consequently it would be good for the town, besides the fact that having Tesco here would help the local employment situation.

If people go out of town to visit a Tesco store it seems that they would also spend money at the same town for other things they need, instead of spending it in Okehampton.

We go to Launceston Tesco on a regular basis and also do some shopping there at the same time and I know we are not the only ones who do so, because we often meet people from Okehampton and district. They tell us they think a Tesco store in Okehampton a great benefit.

Brian and Rose Nockolds

THERE have been some interesting statistics bandied about in relation to the support for Tesco in Okehampton. On the first day of consultation, Simon Petar, of Tesco, said over 60% 'of the people' were in favour of Tesco coming. I challenged him as to how he came up with this number. 60% of how many? After all, 60% of 20 is 12! Then the figure crept to 68%.

Now your reporter (Times, June 14) blithely reports Tesco as saying 70% support.  Again, I ask, of how many?

Nobody I've spoken to filled in a survey, unless they mean those people who filled in application forms for a job? I monitored all three 'consultations' and I doubt if more than 200 people out of a population of 7,000 attended.

The chamber of trade and other residents of the town have set up a group, Okehampton Community First. In other words, reminding people Okehampton is a community, a small market town which has existed since Saxon times (over 1,000 years for the non-historians among you!)

If 40% (another alleged statistic!) shop outside the town, is it because they work in Exeter or Plymouth? is it the appalling gridlock that is Market Street ? Do they shop online?

We are sending a survey out to every resident and business in the town; please tell us how you feel. The email for those who prefer that mode of correspondence is [email protected]">[email protected]

Thank you!

Jan Goffey